Footscray’s primary school students build their new hospital

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Plenary Health has completed its first ‘Get to Know Your Hospital Program’, partnering with the Footscray Learning Precinct (FLP) to engage with and involve local schools in the new Footscray Hospital Project.

Held during National Science Week, budding young designers from Footscray Primary and Footscray City Primary Schools had the opportunity to design and build their version of the new Footscray Hospital as part of a STEAM-based learning activity by Dr Loz from SciencePlay Kids.

Students also learnt about the importance of hospitals in their community and the various kinds of health professionals and staff who will work at the new facility. 

Plenary Health New Footscray Hospital Project Chair Kelvyn Lavelle said the program was an opportunity to engage with and connect young people in the west to their new hospital.

“The project allows students to learn the design principles that underpin the creation of a community hospital, building their own version of the hospital in a fun, hands-on activity,” Mr Lavelle said.

“It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm from children that took part in the activity, the eagerness to learn and chat about their new Footscray Hospital, and the excitement to visit when it opens.

“The collaboration with Footscray Learning Precinct is an important one as the precinct provides education pathways from early learning to adult education. It’s possible the next generation of health workers for the new hospital had their curiosity piqued and will go on to be the hospital designers, doctors and nurses of the future.”

The Footscray Learning Precinct is an integrated hub and framework for education from kindergarten through to higher education pathways at university in Melbourne’s west and includes Footscray High School, Footscray Primary School, Footscray City Primary School, and the Billy Button early learning centre. 

Jessie Hand and Jenn Briggs, Principals from Footscray City Primary School and Footscray Primary School, said: “This great initiative, among others happening in our FLP schools, including Footscray High School, is part of the precinct’s commitment to promoting and integrating STEAM and design thinking as well as strengthening our partnerships across Footscray and with the new hospital that will operate in our community.”

The New Footscray Hospital Project has also been working with the Footscray Learning Precinct to connect high school VCE students to the Footscray Connectivity Centre and NFH Jobs Hub, educating students on jobs, apprenticeships and training available on the new hospital site and at the Victoria University Polytechnic.

Work on the $1.5 billion New Footscray Hospital Project is currently underway. Due to open in 2025, it is being delivered by the Plenary Health consortium in partnership with the Victorian Health Building Authority and Western Health.